State Roundup, April 25, 2018

Dogs and puppies were all over the State House Tuesday as Gov. Hogan signed a bill relating to the sale of puppies. Governor’s Office photo

PUPPIES, PUPPIES, HOGAN: Puppy politics were on full display at the State House Tuesday as Gov. Larry Hogan signed three animal-friendly bills, including a ban on so-called “puppy mills.” Michael Dresser of the Sun reports that the pet-related measures were among 207 bills that the Republican governor signed in Annapolis on Tuesday — including new gun-control and crime-reduction laws that are expected to affect his reelection bid this year. The article is topped by video of Hogan and puppies. Lots of puppies.

FRANCHOT WHACKED AGAIN: Much of the considerable acrimony between Comptroller Peter Franchot (D) and the General Assembly played out in public view during the just-concluded legislative session, but lawmakers saved one last swipe at the state’s tax collector for the chaotic moments just before adjournment. Bruce DePuyt of Maryland Matters writes. A small, under-the-radar bill to alter the process for administering an oath to members of the State Retirement and Pension System Board of Trustees was amended late on the session’s final day to mandate that the state treasurer chair the 15-member panel. There is an unwritten practice dating back decades, in which the more senior constitutional officer on the board — the treasurer or the comptroller — controls the gavel.

METRO WEIGHS LABOR CONTRACT: Metro is worried it could lose more than $180 million a year in penalties if a new labor contract is so costly that the transit system can’t keep its budget under a cap imposed by Maryland and Virginia in the landmark funding agreement, reports Robert McCartney in the Post. A three-member arbitration panel began a critical phase Monday in closed-door proceedings on a contract to set pay and benefits for Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689, Metro’s largest union.

BA CO EXEC CANDIDATES ON LAND ISSUES: Four of the leading candidates for Baltimore County executive spoke before a crowd of more than 100 real estate agents, builders and mortgage professionals on Tuesday, making promises that they’ll encourage smart growth and improve the development approval process. Pamela Wood highlights some of the issues that came out of the forum, which featured County Councilwoman Vicki Almond, a Reisterstown Democrat; state Sen. Jim Brochin, a Cockeysville Democrat; former state Del. Johnny Olszewski Jr., a Dundalk Democrat; and insurance commissioner Al Redmer Jr., a Middle River Republican.